Platinum Equity Founder, Chairman and CEO Tom Gores brings a broad background of acquisitions experience, technological expertise and operational knowledge to his fast-growing, yet strategically focused M&A&O (mergers, acquisitions and operations) organization. From the corporate headquarters in Los Angeles, California, Mr. Gores serves as chairman of the board, overseeing strategic development and direction for each of the companies currently in the Platinum portfolio. Platinum typically acquires businesses from leading, Fortune 500 companies including GE, Global Crossing, Vivendi Universal, CompuCom, DyStar, Lucent, Fujitsu, Philips, Kemper Services, Hays, Alcatel and Motorola.

Mr. Gores has completed more than eighty transactions at Platinum, earning nationwide recognition as an M&A&O strategist in the competitive acquisitions market space.

Since the Company’s founding in 1995, Platinum Equity has been recognized by top business publications as one of the largest and fastest-growing, private companies in the United States, most recently ranking #22 on Forbes’ Largest Private Companies list for 2006. Tom Gores is also on Forbes World Billionaires and Richest Americans lists, and is noted as one of the youngest individuals added to the roster.

Prior to establishing Platinum in 1995, Mr. Gores was an active investor in startup operations and while doing so, developed a philosophy of “managed entrepreneurship” – a principle critical to his success in creating new value in all Platinum-owned companies. Mr. Gores combines his M&A acumen and operational knowledge to execute unique acquisition strategies that have driven the rapid growth of Platinum Equity to a multi-billion-dollar revenue base in just twelve years.

In that time, Mr. Gores has also built up a deep infrastructure of more than 100 M&A&O professionals dedicated to the fulfillment of the transaction process from acquisition through operations. This dynamic staff is part of Platinum’s unique corporate culture, which is guided by Mr. Gores’ leadership principles and core values that have charted Platinum’s course to success.

Outside his duties at Platinum Equity, Mr. Gores is involved in philanthropic activities as a member of the board of directors at both St. Joseph’s Hospital and UCLA Medical Center. Mr. Gores holds a Bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University.